A courtroom experience in high school sparked a teen's dream of pursuing justice. Now, as a first-year law student, Mikayla Green is fuelling her ambition to become a judge.
The first time Mikayla imagined herself as a lawyer, she wasn't sitting in a university lecture theatre. She was standing in a courtroom. During a Year 10 school visit to Mackay Magistrates Court, Mikayla had the chance to don a courtroom gown and wig before taking a seat in the magistrate's chair. Looking out across the courtroom, she had a flash of career clarity.
“I've always wanted to help make a difference, and justice is something I genuinely value,” she says. “In that moment, I just knew that's where I wanted to be and I've been working towards it ever since.”
Mikayla’s early ambition stuck. She took part in Bond's Year 12 Extension Program and National High School Mooting Competition and immersed herself in the life of a law student. She recalls how she 'fell in love with the Bond campus straight away,' and those early experiences cemented her decision to study law at Bond.
Coming from a regional area, Mikayla credits Bond's scholarship program for making her next move possible. She applied for the Vice Chancellor's Elite Scholarship and through her exceptional academic results, proven leadership skills and impressive personality, Mikayla became an esteemed recipient in 2026.
Making the leap into university life
For Mikayla, the transition from high school to university was relatively smooth thanks to the genuine care from Bond’s academics. She speaks warmly of the encouragement and personalised support she's received, from having questions answered after class to getting extra guidance when needed.
“I've never felt like just another student in a lecture theatre. I know my academics really care about my learning and success, and that’s given me the confidence to keep asking questions and pushing myself."
It's a level of assurance that has not only helped Mikayla find her feet at Bond but will sustain her through her legal studies, and beyond.
Thinking like a lawyer from day one
For Mikayla, one of the major highlights of studying law at Bond is how quickly theory comes to life through practise.
“In the first semester, students complete a moot and a negotiation assessment, so we’re practising legal scenarios from the start, rather than just reading about them,” she says.
Bond's mooting competitions have been another highlight, giving Mikayla the chance to practise advocacy by presenting legal arguments in a simulated courtroom.
“Working on moot submissions, anticipating questions from the bench and thinking on your feet all make legal theory click in a way that really prepares you for becoming a lawyer,” she says.
Finding places to connect
Being a university student is about more than what happens in the classroom, though. It's about the friendships formed, communities discovered and experiences that shape who you become along the way. Alongside her studies and mooting interests, Mikayla joined the executive of the Bond Basketball Club, finding a welcoming group of people beyond the Faculty of Law.
“I love being part of various communities at Bond because it keeps me balanced and gives me diverse groups of friends who share similar passions,” she says.
She's also embraced opportunities to connect with the legal profession through Bond's Careers Networking and Mooting Celebration events. Meeting practising lawyers, academics and other professionals has given her a broader perspective on the profession and the many pathways available.
“Hearing how others got to where they are made my own goals feel more achievable, and it showed me how welcoming the legal community can be,” Mikayla says.
Fuelling her ambition
Mikayla has bold plans for her future. She's working towards becoming a criminal prosecutor with the aim of becoming a judge. And it’s an ambition fuelled by those around her.
“The Bond community is full of some of the most ambitious people I've ever met, and it's so inspiring to be surrounded by such hardworking and driven students. That energy rubs off.”
That same energy also challenges Mikayla to stay curious, while remaining connected to the values that inspired her to study law in the first place.
“Bond has encouraged me to think bigger than the traditional law pathway, and it's shown me how many different avenues there are for a lawyer,” she says.
Inspiring the next generation
For those considering a career in law, Mikayla's advice is to ask questions, explore what's possible, take steps with confidence and experience university life in its entirety.
Her most important advice, however, is simple. “Back yourself, believe that you can do it, and remember you belong in the room just as much as anyone else,” she says. “Law can be challenging but that’s what makes it so rewarding.”
For Mikayla, it all started with a lightbulb moment in Year 10. Today, she's a confident, connected and skilled young woman who is shaping her big career goals into a stellar reality.